royal wootton bassett
v Bournemouth

Team Selection: One positional change in the backs: centres Higgins and Hancox swopping places. In the forwards: BS flanker Connor McCaffery replaced lock Ademuwagun Anjolaoluwa, OS flanker Ben Kimber replaced McCaffery and Sam Elrick made his first start in replacing Kimber. On the bench, 2nd team player Matt Durkin, making his 1st XV debut, replaced Elrick.

Yet another Bournemouth Come-back this time pipped at the Post.

The weather was simply awful. Very wet and very cold. Losing two players to yellow cards in the first few minutes of the game didn’t help Bournemouth’s cause and they did well to confine the damage to just a penalty. Bournemouth struggled to contain RWB in those opening minutes and they eventually conceded another score to go behind 0-8 after nearly 20 minutes. RWB chose to scrum a penalty in front of Bournemouth’s posts but that didn’t go to plan and Bournemouth were able to clear. Nonetheless RWB continued to dominate and with half-time fast approaching they drove off a lineout before moving the ball left to score under the posts. The goal was duly kicked and RWB led 15-0 after 39 minutes. Despite some good Bournemouth play they couldn’t breach the home defence and they went in for their oranges adrift by 15 points. Winger Jordie Wayman had a good run early to lift the Bournemouth spirits, but they remained scoreless, and it was 20 minutes into the half before Hancox had the opportunity to get Bournemouth on the scoreboard with a penalty. The game was very tight with neither side yielding. It was from a line-out some ten metres out that Bournemouth first drove before releasing left. The ball came back right, and Hancox was over for Bournemouth’s first try. The same player failed to convert but at least Bournemouth had reduced the deficit at 8-15 30 minutes into the half. RWB committed the cardinal sin of kicking the restart straight out to give Bournemouth an attacking scrum on the half-way line. Attacking right they rather spoilt things with a knock on but regained the advantage by winning the subsequent scrum. Going left off the scrum, they were awarded a scrum inside the RWB 22m. Securing the ball they made a dent going right before coming back left and Pope was over. Hancox tied the scores up at 15-all with six minutes of actual time left. Securing the restart, Bournemouth kicked left to find touch. Bournemouth were awarded a scrum at the line-out and attacked right. With the referee signalling advantage, Bournemouth continued to attack but when no advantage accrued, play came back to the original penalty. Hancox kicked the penalty from inside the RWB 22m and Bournemouth led 18-15 with just a minute of actual time to go. RWB secured the restart and attacked right before kicking. Bournemouth kicked clear but RWB countered only for Bournemouth to be penalized in the tackle. RWB found touch to their left inside the Bournemouth 22m. They drove off the line-out and scored. Although the conversion attempt failed, they were back in the lead at 22-18. Bournemouth chased down the restart forcing RWB to kick. The kick was fielded, and a rather optimistic drop goal was attempted which was charged down and RWB were pleased to end proceedings by kicking the ball off the park in the sixth minute of extra time.

Bournemouth’s next match is away to Banbury, Saturday, March 18, KO 3.00PM.
Doug Warren, Bournemouth RFC.